The Panther
Patrick Henry Middle School
Mission: To educate and prepare each student to succeed in a changing world.
Newsletter Date:
February 1, 2021
Volume 1, Issue 4
Principal's Corner
We know the role parents and guardians play in their student’s education can be a key factor to their success. While we always welcome regular communication between home and school, we formally invite all parents and guardians to visit with our teachers twice a year during our scheduled parent-teacher conferences. During the month of February, all families are invited to connect with your student’s teachers to hear about what they are working on and to discuss their progress!
There are two upcoming opportunities for parents to schedule a parent-teacher conference:
February 23rd: 4:30 – 8:00 p.m.
February 25th: 4:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Conferences will be held virtually or by phone. You will receive an email from your students’ PRO-time teacher with a link to sign up for a time that works for you. Thank you again for partnering with us to make school a positive experience for your child. We greatly appreciate you!
Mrs. Sharping,
PHMS Principal
End of Day Student Messages
February Calendar
- Panther Days - February 5th, 19th and 26th
- President's Day Break/No School - February 15th and 16th
- Parent Teacher Conferences - February 23rd and 25th
Child Nutrition News
Child Nutrition Services is excited to begin offering Ala Carte’ sales at the high schools February 1, 2021. Our team assessed safety concerns involved with COVID-19 regarding offering Ala Carte’ items. We are pleased to make these options available to students with limited touch points for safety.
We know and understand that one size does not fit all for our student’s nutrition needs from the meal of the day and want to provide access for those who need just a bit more to be energized and ready to learn.
In order to purchase Ala Carte’, students must have funds in their account. These items are not part of the free school lunch students are currently receiving. We will not allow any form of charging related to extra items purchased.
All food sold in School Nutrition Programs must meet stringent guidelines. Please understand snack items meet specific calorie, sodium, and fat requirements.
Congratulations to our February Students of the Month
Lost And Found
Athletics
New Info:
Boys and girls track will start on Monday, March 22nd. Students, please listen and check the bulletin and announcements for other information related to the Track and Field start date.
Please go to the Patrick Henry athletics web page on the Sioux Falls School District website. Once there, go to the Patrick Henry link on the page to sign up for sports, view the schedules, see the requirements and parent letters. We also ask that you watch the short information video on the page. We are looking forward to a great year.
Link to the Patrick Henry Athletics Page:
https://sfsdathletics.k12.sd.us/middle-schools/patrick-henry-middle-school
Athletics Information Video Link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sJ4q94aVS24SaVWscdc6gQOEgsjyKTQm/view
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Chris Andersen
Athletic Coordinator Patrick Henry MS
All athletes need to have a physical on file at school before they can participate. Check the district athletics information page about physicals and the district permission packet.
Counselor's Corner
Sub Communication
Siouxland Libraries Winter Reading Program
We're back to help encourage children to read this winter by participating in the Siouxland Libraries Winter Reading Program. Kids earn a prize for completing one Bingo, which also enters them in a grand prize drawing. Each additional Bingo earns another entry into the grand prize drawing.
Participants have until February 28 to turn in their Bingo cards for prizes. Parents can participate with their children by downloading the adult card.
Visit https://siouxlandlib.org/winter-reading-program for more information and to download a Bingo card. Play online by registering here: https://siouxlandlib.readsquared.com.
For every age: Read books. Complete challenges. Win prizes.
Questions? Call 367-8700.
Your Passport to Adventure
School Related Cancellations and Postponements
It is important to be prepared for the winter storms and extreme cold that every South Dakota winter brings. Please read the following information so you are aware of the procedures for school related cancellations and postponements.
District leaders rely on experts from the National Weather Service and city/county officials when we make decisions on school cancellations, late starts or early dismissals.
Cancelling School/Late Start
When a severe storm hits the area, or is forecast, we start contacting local officials as early as 3:00 a.m. We communicate with our Operational Services Department, the Weather Bureau, the City Street Department, Sioux Falls Transit, and our transportation contractors. It is our goal to decide whether or not to cancel school by 5 a.m. to allow time for parking lots and sidewalks to be cleared, food services to prepare meals and the bus company to begin operations. In the event that school needs to be cancelled or delayed, families will be alerted via a ParentLink phone call. These calls will generally be sent between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. to accommodate families whose children are picked up by buses at 6:45 a.m. Announcements are also made on the District’s website, Sioux Falls School District social media sites (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxFallsSchoolDistrict/ and Twitter: twitter.com/SFSchools ) the SFSD app, and over the local radio and television stations.
Because the public schools have a limited rural area, it is often possible for Sioux Falls to have school when nearby towns may not.
Early Dismissal
Storms occasionally move in during the day, making it necessary to assess whether or not to dismiss school early. We choose early dismissal only under the most extreme circumstances. In most cases, it is safer for students to remain at school due to the need for transportation and proper supervision. In the rare instances when schools are dismissed early, families will receive a ParentLink phone call and the information will appear on the District’s website at www.sf.k12.sd.us, and our Sioux Falls School District social media sites (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxFallsSchoolDistrict/ and Twitter: twitter.com/SFSchools ). Announcements are also made over the local radio and television stations.
Notifications refer to dismissal “one hour early” or “two hours early” because of the number of different building schedules. In addition to noting the early dismissal, announcements about evening activities are normally included.
It is very important that every family has a plan for early dismissal. Be sure your student knows where to go in case no one is at home. Parents/Guardians are urged to talk with their student about his/her safety during winter weather emergencies.
Be Safe This Winter
The school system offers these suggestions concerning cold weather and
emergency situations:
1. Listen for a ParentLink phone call regarding school closings, late starts, or early dismissals. Check the District’s website at www.sf.k12.sd.us for updated information.
Follow us on our Sioux Falls School District social media sites (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxFallsSchoolDistrict/ and Twitter: twitter.com/SFSchools ) for updated information. Announcements will also be made on local radio and television stations. (Please avoid calling schools or the Instructional Planning Center. Phone lines are needed for emergency communications.)
2. Make sure students are properly dressed for predicted weather conditions so they are prepared for walking or waiting for a bus in the cold or for being delayed on a bus in a weather-related situation.
3. Students should not arrive at school until the scheduled time for outdoor staff supervision or the breakfast program begins.
4. Develop a plan and inform your student about where your student will go if school is dismissed early.
5. School officials will use their best judgment about school closings, late starts, or early dismissals, but please remember that a parent has the right to keep children home or to pick them up from school early if they feel weather conditions require this action
Reporting an absence
If your child is going to be absent, please call the school (367-7639) prior to 8:40am. An absence must be reported either by note or phone in the day of the absence, or before if you know ahead of time. Absences can also be reported via voice mail outside of regular office hours. Students leaving during the day need to pick up a pass in the office by 9:00am and also check out with a parent/guardian at the office when leaving. If they come back during the school day, a pass from the front office needs to be issued in order for them to get back into the classroom. After attendance is taken each morning, the attendance secretary will begin
calling parents/guardians who have not notified the school regarding a student’s absence. Student safety is the main concern and this procedure provides another check on a student’s absence.
Daily Student and Staff Health Screen Evaluation
3 Steps to Take While Waiting for Your Covid Test Results
Page 2
What have you done in the last 10 days with other people? Activity/Location/Date
Contact us
Website: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/patrick-henry/students-parents
Location: 2200 South 5th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-367-7639
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PanthersSF
Twitter: @PanthersSF